ENTEROBIOME® KIDS
A child's gut microbiome, mapped in a single test.
Quantitative Real-Time PCR analysis of gut microbiota composition in children's stool samples — from normal flora to pathogenicity and resistance markers.
Why analyze the microbiome?
The gut microbiota is a dynamic ecosystem of bacteria, fungi, archaea and viruses. What matters is not individual pathogens but the balance of the ecosystem as a whole.
Metabolic function
Drives carbohydrate and protein metabolism, short-chain fatty acids, bile acids and vitamin production; influences appetite, motility and energy balance.
Immunity & barrier
Stimulates immune maturation, strengthens the gut barrier and blocks pathogen colonization.
Diversity = resilience
A species-rich ecosystem resists adverse stress better. Reduced diversity (dysbiosis) is associated with disease.
What the test measures
EnteroBiome Kids assesses the relative abundance of normobiota and opportunistic microbiota to determine the state of the gut microbiota (normocenosis / dysbiosis).
- ✓Quantitative estimation of normobiota (Actinomycetota, Bacillota, Bacteroidota, Pseudomonadota) and Candida yeasts
- ✓Assessment of normal microbiota diversity
- ✓Determination of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli counts
- ✓Identification of bifidobacteria species
- ✓Calculation of the Bacillota / Bacteroidota ratio
- ✓Detection of pathogenicity and resistance markers (mecA, srr2, tcdA, tcdB)
Detected taxa
Key players of the normal flora
A healthy microbiota is represented mainly by three phyla; each group takes on a distinct function.
Actinomycetota
Bifidobacterium (B. infantis, B. breve, B. bifidum, B. longum)
Dominant group in the first months of life. Ferments breast-milk oligosaccharides; supports immunity and epithelial development.
Bacillota
Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Lachnospiraceae, Lactobacillaceae
The largest taxon. Produces butyrate (SCFA); F. prausnitzii is an anti-inflammatory biomarker.
Bacteroidota
Bacteroides, Prevotella, Parabacteroides
Polysaccharide metabolism and SCFA production. Secretes metabolites that regulate the immune and nervous systems.
Verrucomicrobiota
Akkermansia muciniphila
Colonizes the mucin layer and strengthens barrier function; provides substrate for F. prausnitzii.
Pathobionts
Pathogenicity & resistance markers
EnteroBiome Kids detects not only the normal flora but also opportunistic microorganisms (pathobionts) and clinically critical pathogenicity / resistance genes.
mecA
Staphylococcus spp.
Methicillin resistance (MRSA)
tcdA / tcdB
C. difficile
Enterotoxins A and B
srr2
S. agalactiae
Invasiveness marker
Three key genes are targeted directly, in addition to species detection:
Clostridioides difficile
Produces enterotoxins A and B causing acute inflammation, colitis and hospital-acquired diarrhea. Carries multidrug antibiotic resistance.
Clostridium perfringens gr.
Common in premature infants and associated with the development of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), which is often fatal.
Enterobacterales
Considered an inflammation marker; may be associated with irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease and NEC.
Enterococcus spp.
Includes both commensal species and species that can cause diarrhea in newborns (E. faecalis, E. faecium).
Erysipelotrichaceae
High immunogenicity and pro-inflammatory effect; multidrug resistance. Increases in inflammatory bowel disease.
Staphylococcus aureus
Strains carrying the mecA gene are methicillin-resistant (MRSA). Slows normal flora formation in the gut; can progress to sepsis.
Streptococcus agalactiae
Strains carrying the srr2 gene have increased virulence; associated with bloodstream invasion and the development of meningitis.
Candida albicans
Present in the normal flora; antibiotic therapy promotes colonization. Can cause invasive infection under immune suppression and barrier disruption.
Note: C. difficile carriage is high in children under one year, but these strains are mostly non-toxigenic. Results are interpreted in light of the child's age.
Why Real-Time PCR?
50–80% of gut microorganisms are difficult to culture. Choosing the right method determines how reliable the result is.
- Bacterial culture
50–80% of microorganisms cannot be cultured; results depend on viability.
- Next-generation sequencing (NGS)
Provides species-level detail, but is overly complex and requires expert personnel to interpret.
- Real-Time PCRRecommended
Fast, quantitative and normalized detection with species/group-specific primers. Multiplex format detects several targets in one tube.
EnteroBiome Kids detects the microbial taxa that make up at least 99.9% of the total prokaryotic mass in a child's stool.
How it works
Four steps, from sample collection to the report your clinician receives.
- 1
Sample collection
A stool sample (including meconium) is collected with a simple kit.
- 2
Laboratory
The sample reaches the Genomer lab, where DNA is extracted.
- 3
Real-Time PCR
Multiplex PCR performs quantitative detection at species and gene level.
- 4
Report
An age-appropriate, easy-to-read microbiome report is shared with your clinician.
Kit features
- Multiplex format
- Multiple DNA targets are detected simultaneously in a single tube.
- Automated reporting
- Results are generated automatically with recommended Real-Time PCR instruments and RealTime_PCR software.
- Internal control
- DNA extraction and PCR quality are validated for every sample.
- Preset templates
- Pre-configured parameters for rapid setup and automatic calculation.
Frequently asked questions
- EnteroBiome Kids is designed for children 0–14, and meconium samples can also be evaluated.
Want more information about the test?
EnteroBiome Kids is distributed via clinician and laboratory channels. Please contact Genomer for information.
EnteroBiome Kids is a CE/IVD-marked in vitro diagnostic (IVD) device, used under the supervision of an authorized healthcare professional.